Commenting on the new guidance issued by the Department for Education, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union, NAHT said:

“Engaging with political issues is a vital element of pupil’s education and learning, helping them to understand and explore different views and develop their own judgements and opinions.

“The vast majority of schools fully meet their legal responsibilities on political impartiality, which relies on the professional expertise and judgement of school leaders and teachers, and we are pleased this new non-statutory guidance recognises that. Schools are already highly skilled in this area and take the need for political impartiality extremely seriously. 

“Schools must be enabled to feel confident in approaching political, sensitive or controversial issues in the classroom and this guidance should offer clarity and support where that is needed. There remains a risk that it could create unnecessary anxiety or fear about tackling these issues and we must ensure that does not come to fruition.”